Apatani Tribe: Location and Distinctive Identity

Context: The Apatani women’s tattoos and nose plugs—once symbols of identity and protection—are now fading.

About the Apatani Tribe

• Location: Indigenous tribe living in the Ziro Valley, Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Distinctive Identity:
  • Women traditionally wore facial tattoos and large wooden nose plugs.
  • Tattoos (called tappe) were usually done when a girl was about 10 years old.
• The Apatanis are known for sustainable wet rice cultivation and fish farming.

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